Notre Dames run down field after Cameron Knight (21) scores the second goal in the first half of play against Winneconne Thursday at the WIAA Soccer Division 3 Sectional Semi-Final in Green Bay. Oshkosh Northwestern Media, Mark Ebert / Oshkosh Northwester

The Green Bay Notre Dame boys soccer team is one win away from yet another trip to state.

The Tritons beat Winneconne 3-1 in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal on Thursday night at Ted Fritsch Field behind two goals from standout junior forward Ethan Diestler, extending their winning streak to five matches and their unbeaten streak to nine.

Notre Dame (14-5-6) will play Luxemburg-Casco (18-4-2) in a sectional championship at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Seymour High School.

It is seeking a third straight trip to state and the eighth overall. The Tritons reached the title game in D3 last season and won D2 state titles in 2001, 2007 and 2008.

They are attempting to get back despite having just four seniors on the roster.

"We lost 10 guys (from last season)," Diestler said. "So, we didn't know how the season was going to be. But we have come together a lot. Now, we are climbing to the top."

If the Tritons were feeling any nerves or pressure early on, Diestler helped ease both. He scored his 10th goal of the season off an assist from junior midfielder Evan Watzka with 34 minutes, 49 seconds left in the first half.

Junior midfielder Cameron Knight then scored his first goal of the season a short while later, putting Notre Dame up 2-0 with 27:10 remaining in the half.

Although Notre Dame coach Bob Rickards often says a two-goal lead is the most dangerous one to have in soccer, it certainly put the Tritons in good position thanks to a defense that had entered having allowed two or more goals just one time in the past eight matches and no goals in the first two tournament wins against Marinette and New London.

That doesn't mean it was easy.

Winneconne came out and had Notre Dame on its heels in the second half, cutting its deficit to 2-1 on a goal from junior forward Jacob Brazee a few minutes in.

The Wolves had a few more good looks at the goal but just couldn't get one in the back of the net, including one attempt in which Notre Dame goaltender Charlie Parish made a great block to knock the ball away and save the lead.

"We were really close to tying," said Winneconne coach Luis Sayavedra, whose team finished 17-2-3. "The kids don't give up. We talked in the second half that we had to make a couple of adjustments and play forward and keep us one-on-one. We came up close.

"They are a good team. They were able to move the ball well. In the set plays they are good, and they were able to cross the ball and score. They deserve it. We had our chances, but they played better than us. I think they are going to go far."

Diestler made sure there would be no comeback, scoring his second goal with 27:18 remaining. It came a few minutes after it appeared he would score on a wide-open goal, only to have the ball get caught behind his foot. By that time, three Winneconne defenders had come from the left side to knock the ball away.

"It's really frustrating," Diestler said. "You just have to put it behind you right away, but it is frustrating."

In the end, it didn't matter. Diestler got his goal, and Notre Dame got the win. Now it just needs one against L-C to get to Milwaukee.

"I think they are a very good team," Rickards said of the Spartans. "That's a team that has come together through the year. As a coach, that's what you want to do. They have definitely finished on a high note and are playing well right now.

"We will have to go and do some studying and figure out how we want to defend and attack. We only have a couple days to do it."